Hi, everyone, I found you through the link in Roni's sig over at colichelp.com. I have two premies with reflux. They are on Zantac and Reglan and we are seeing a specialist in two weeks. Patrick has frequent (SO SCARY) apnic episodes and Catherine screams in pain after every feeding. They are almost two months old.

My older daughter is two and was never even a spitter so I'm brand new to all of this.

Hi Analisa and welcome!

I'm glad you joined us. It sounds like you have your hands full! I thought my days were rough with one refluxing three year old :? !

Patrick and Catherine are beautiful! How premature were they? It's a shame because preemie's have so much other stuff to over come but they are way more likely to have reflux issues than other babies...actually, most preemie's will have reflux for the first few months.

Is Patrick on an apnea monitor? I was so lucky with Shae that she never really had those (she'd stop breathing a lot when she'd throw up though), they are so diificult to treat. It sounds like a specialist is a good idea, read up on the treatments etc before you go so you will know what he is talking about when you get there. Sounds to me like Catherine could use a proton pump inhibitor for her pain for sure.

Anyway, thanks again for joining, I'm glad you found us and look forward to getting to know you.

Thank you. They were 35w2d. No apnea monitor - hasn't been bad enough for that, thank God. I have read a lot and I do think C, and probably P, could use a PPI.

Wow it must be awfully scary dealing with apneas and no monitor. I hope that you are able to get them on a PPI and that it helps.

There's nothing I can do during the apnea, right? I just hold him close and tell him Mommy's here and I know it's scary...

Have the docs never talk to you about cpr just in case. You might try to take a class just to be more comfortable. But what you are suppose to do with apnea is stimulate the baby by rubbing the chest vigerously yet gently. If you are more comfortable holding him close then rub his back but what happens is the baby is forgetting to breath and by arousing him he will bounce back. There is a monitor you can by and it works great. It is a pad that ditect movement as little as breathing. An alarm goes off it the baby has not moved in like 20 sec. It is a bit on the expensive side but well worth the reasurance. We used it with my dd. My dd would reflux, choke on it, throw up, and asperate on that. It is so scarey especially when they are so new and fragile.

If you are not comfortable with a two week wait call and see if the doc can call you if someone cancels. Are you noticing any improvement with the zantac and reglan?

Thanks, Sue. P's episodes are also due to aspiration, I think. The meds are helping a little but not a lot. Ped. hasn't talked to me about much, most of what I've learned has been from PAGER and other places online.

I take back what I said if you think the episodes are asperation. Asperation and apnea are two different problems. If you think that he is "silently asperating" do not place him on his back and rub his chest. In fact turn him over so his tummy is in your hand facing toward the floor, hold his chin between your thumb and four finger a little head down. In the same position you would put a baby needing the hymlic. and rub his back with your knuckles. With asperation you can have many problem so you want to make sure all fluid gets out of his air way. No back sleeping. And if his color ever ever ever turns blue during an episode take him to the hospital or call 911. If you haven't invested in a wedge give that some thought. The only way I could get the docs to pay attention to our thought that she was asperating was to video her day and night until we finally caught it on tape. It took a while because murphy's law say she would asperate every time we turned the computer off. But they finally listened. My advise to you is to practice the before mentsion manuver on a doll a few times so you are comfortable flipping him over. I can do it in my sleep now. My dd was 34w exactly when she was born.

Hiya Analisa,

WELCOME!!!
I thought one was hard with reflux...
You have 2 and each baby is different.
(((HUGS)))

~Rachel

Wow, thanks, Sue. He mostly sleeps on his tummy on my chest.

Appt. is this coming Tues. Catherine has been screaming in pain all day and Patrick had trouble nursing this evening b/c it kept coming out his nose and blocking his nose breathing. :( :( :(

Analisa,

I can honestly say that I know what you're going through with the vomit coming through Patrick's nose. As scary as it is for us as parents, it's absolutely terrifying for our little ones to be so sick. Keep trying your best to comfort him. As he grows and gets a little older, it will begin to get better.

Hang in there. Hopefully the doctor will have some new meds., etc. to start the twins on when you go Tuesday. Please let us know how it goes.

You sound like you need a few minutes away from all of the screaming. If you can, leave the kids with your husband or a grandparent and get away for a brisk walk. You'll find that even 10-15 minutes will do your spirit well and you'll be ready to deal with the kids again.

Actually I have been able to get out for walks. I always take the dog, and I always take one baby (usually asleep in the sling) and I sometimes take my toddler. I also get away for a few minutes every day when I pick up my toddler from school. My mom is going home to Houston Saturday, though, and then I will only have these opportunities on the weekends.